This semester, I have devoted this blog to state the many problems with standardized testing. Despite it having some benefits as far as being a somewhat effective way to measure progress, it has created many problems within our nation’s schools. In my previous blogs I talked about how it forces teachers to teach the test rather than useful material, how testing agencies can’t effectively standardized what information is more important, and how only about three large corporations control the entire testing market. Now I am happy to be writing about the fact that the number of standardized tests have dropped in the past year.
According to an article published in the Washington Post, the number of standardized tests have dropped in the past year. For years now parents, student, and policy makers have been trying to show the problems of standardized testing. Many schools have eliminated high stakes tests. these are standardized tests that are required to graduate high school. For example in my high school recently removed the requirement to pass the keystone in order to graduate. Nation wide there is also a trend in reducing these types of standardized tests. Since 2012 the number of states that had these tests have dropped from 25 to 13. Many other states have expanded alternatives to passing the test in order to graduate. This is good for many reasons but mostly because studies have shown that these types of tests cause a great deal of individual and social harm without providing any benefits.
Another development in the reduction of standardized testing is that many states have put caps on the amount of time spent on standardized tests during the school day. In Maryland, the state legislature has capped the amount of time that districts spend on testing. Now instead of testing every kindergartner like in the past, schools will only test a representative sample. This will allow schools to evaluate the progress of students without wasting too much time administering tests. In New Mexico, a law was passed that eliminated the requirement for 9th and 10th graders to take three periodic reading, English and math tests throughout the year. In the state of West Virginia, schools have eliminated English and math exams for 9th and 10th graders. Public pressure in Hawaii has also caused the elimination of end-of-course high school exams along with the use of ACT tests. Most notably PARCC, one of the largest testing agencies, have cut their exam times down by 90 minutes.
As far as the use of tests scores to evaluate teachers. Many states have begun to eliminate this element of standardized testing. Since ESSA replaced No Child Left Behind. seven different states (Connecticut, Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Oklahoma) have ended this method of teacher evaluations. Some states are also now allowing parents to opt their children out of taking standardized tests all together. Many have taken this option. this was seen in New York which has held a 20 percent opt out rate for standardized tests.
With so many states and school districts eliminating standardized tests, it raises the question of how will we assess the academic progress of Americas youth. One solution is to have teacher produced assessments. these would be tests designed by teachers who actually teach the children, scored by these teachers and used to evaluate the progress of students. Half of New Hampshire school districts have begun to implement this policy. Along with New Hampshire many teacher unions are now getting involved with implementing this policy nation wide.
I think the reduction in standardized tests is a step in the right direction. If America wishes to compete internationally we need to constantly be evolving our education system to make sure everyone gets the most out of the education system. Hopefully by the time my children enter the education system they will face better forms of accessing their academic ability. Thank you for reading my blog this semester. It has been fun informing you on something that I believe to be a pressing civic issue facing our nation.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/12/06/efforts-to-reduce-standardized-testing-succeeded-in-many-school-districts-in-2017-heres-why-and-how/?utm_term=.067a6fb0b070